Greenville News building evacuated

Spilled gas leads to evacuations, medical response

The Greenville News building on Main Street was evacuated and dozens of people examined by EMS for what ended up being some spilled gasoline.

The Greenville Fire Department was called about a strong gasoline smell inside the building at about 4:30 p.m. Friday.

The street was closed from Broad Street to Falls Park while the building was completely evacuated.

As a safety precaution, ambulances were brought to the scene, and 32 people ended up being checked out by EMS. One woman was transported to the hospital as a precaution, according to a News 4 crew at the scene.

Assistant Fire Chief Sidney Farmer said it was later determined that a worker operating a leaf blower spilled some gasoline near an elevator shaft in the parking garage below the building. The gasoline odor was able to travel from the elevator shaft into the air ducts, leading to the evacuation.

The first floor of the building was aired out before employees were allowed to return at about 5:30 p.m.

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